Lovereading Reader reviews of Eyes Like Mine by Sheena Kamal Below are the complete reviews, written by Lovereading members. Phylippa Smithson This is everything you want out of a thriller fast-paced, (very) gritty, challenging and human. Fantastic read. Not many books I read are set in one of my favourite parts of the world Vancouver and its immediate surroundings. But boy did this book introduce me to a different seedier, ruthless and not the attractive place I had uncovered. Nora is getting by just. Fighting her addictions largely alcohol and hiding her real self from all and any who try and prise it out of her. What she is choosing to hide however is denied her when she is asked to try and find the 15 year old daughter of a couple. And this is no ordinary case, after-all that s the role she does, find missing people, to fund the necessities of her very basic life. So is it any wonder she is being asked. What makes this such a remarkable case is that she is in fact being asked to investigate and find her own daughter. To say Nora is determined is an understatement. What drives her to find her daughter is not a maternal instinct and throughout even she questions her motivation. But that s what makes this thriller such an engaging read it s not soaked in emotion and is never driving to happy ever after ending. Superb stuff.
Natasha Motton Captivating suspense thriller. When her past comes crashing back to haunt her, Nora Watts embarks on an investigation that she doesn't want to start but is compelled to finish. This is a suspense novel that centres around a main female character that is similar to Steig Larson's Lisbeth Salander. She is feisty but vulnerable and carries the demons of her past on her shoulders. Having fought to establish a life for herself, Nora's life is turned upside one day when she receives a phone call that makes her re-live an event she has tried hard to forget. Nora is soon involved in an investigation which puts her life in danger and makes her question where her loyalties lie and who she can trust. This is a compelling read which grabs your attention from the offset. I can see this book being made into a film due to the complexities of the characters involved. Fans of Steig Larson will enjoy this book. Alexandra Harper-Williams I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced novel and found it very hard to put down. Meet Nora Watts, an unlikely heroine, who just wants to put her past behind and live in peace with her dog. A late night call changes everything, when she finds out that the daughter she has given up fifteen years ago has gone missing. Where will her search lead her and what will she discover? This rather dark novel keeps you guessing till the very end. Nora Watts is a tough lady who very often makes the wrong decisions and is deeply flawed. However, she is also brave and strong and it is fascinating to find out more about her background. Fantastic novel for cosy winter evenings. Sophia Ufton This was an amazing story and I loved every second of it. It s late, the phone rings, the man on the other end says your daughter is missing...what do you do? That was 15 years ago and things have changed Nora doesn't want to face the past but she needs to in order to solve her problems.
Nicola Lowes A good suspense story with an ending that wraps up all the loose ends. I enjoyed it. I don t know what to make of this book s heroine. I did root for her but she s not very likeable, yet she still managed to have quite a few people looking out for her and helping her along. Nora s had a traumatic past and was obviously turned hard in the process. She acts like she doesn t care but we see she does care for her dog. The descriptions of the wilder parts of Canada feel authentic and help set the scene for the story. The bad characters were nicely nasty and plenty of action helped the story move along well. Follow Nicola on Twitter: @NJLowes Nicola Kingswell How far can you run when your past catches up with you? Nora Watts has had a difficult life. Abandoned by her mother, raised in care, a brief stint in the military, alcoholism and a traumatic event have all resulted in her being a loner. She works as a researcher and investigator s assistant, living in her employer s basement with her dog. Out of the blue she is contacted by the adoptive parents of the baby she gave away 15 years ago saying that their daughter has gone missing. Some invisible thread of responsibility, or guilt, pulls Nora to investigate Bonnie s disappearance and face the demons of her past. This is an interesting novel, and I think the comparisons with Girl with a Dragon Tattoo are fair (not so Gone Girl or Girl on a Train other than having untraditional heroines). Nora is a difficult character; deep, dark and troubled with a lack of self-worth. She is feisty, can handle herself and is a strong female lead. The first third of the book was fantastic. Fast-paced, edgy and intriguing. However, the political and environmental aspects felt a bit like the author was trying too hard to add extra dimensions to the story. I felt the novel lost a bit of its punch in the middle, with the ending feeling a little hurried and not quite fulfilling. Though this might be a hook for further books, but I d be a bit unsure as to what Nora would have left in her tank after this adventure. Great narrative, scene setting, dialogue and characters. Would make an excellent adventure movie.
Janet Gilliard This is the first Nora Watts novel and I really enjoyed it. A not particularly likeable heroine but a cracking story. A phone call sends Nora off looking for the daughter she gave up 15 years ago. A well written page turner. Jillian McFrederick Featuring such an unusual character as Nora, this story is both captivating and disturbing at the same time. Her back story, as it gradually emerges, explains why she is the way she is. Despite appearances, Nora is bright and good at her job working with lawyers and ferreting out information...she uses her skills to find out what has happened to her estranged daughter and finds herself in an unsavoury conspiracy, struggling to survive herself. I found this a good read though at times it seemed overly complicated, involving alcoholism, a crooked mining business, harvesting of umbilical blood and organs, as well as a mix of government agencies who seemed to be working against each other. It was confusing, but Nora's voice was strong and the character well defined. She has few meaningful relationships, probably as a result of her past, apart from a touching friendship with a stray dog Whisper, who she adopts and who plays a big part in keeping her grounded and sane. I anticipate more stories featuring Nora but hope for a bit more clarity and focus next time, with the emphasis on the main plot and less on the other elements. But on the whole an entertaining read. You can follow Jillian on Twitter: @JMcFrederick Alison Bisping I really enjoyed this - plenty of twists and turns. In fact, so many, I probably need to re-read it, which is very rare for me. A good psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages. It was confusing to start with, chapters are short and seemed to jump around, however, I soon got used to the style. It is a while before we get introduced properly to Nora Watts, who the book is about, although she is introduced immediately, just not by name.
She has a hidden past which is hinted at throughout the early pages and by the end, we understand her history. She had a daughter who was adopted at birth, but she has disappeared. Why? What is the connection between the disappearance and an early morning phone call Nora receives? Nora discovers a dangerous conspiracy - who can she trust? Who can help her? Read it yourself - and see if you can work out the reasons and the ending before you get there - I couldn't! Sarah Jones Tried too hard to be edgy and gritty but didn't succeed. Too many themes which didn't work. This sounded intriguing. Nora answers a call about her daughter who she gave away for adoption fifteen years ago. The daughter is missing and Nora is an amateur detective who decides to find her. However, it didn't live up to expectations. There was just too much going on. With rape, attempted murder, fighting, infidelity, gangsters, corruption, alcoholism, oh and stem cell research this book just tried too hard and ended up failing. As Nora's situation got more complex I found her harder to engage with and disliked her more. She wasn't a likeable main character and despite all her difficulties I just found that I didn't care. Whilst resolving where Nora's daughter was, the ending was almost farcical which didn't fit with the gritty nature and themes that were trying to be conveyed throughout the rest of the story. A disappointing read which unfortunately seemed to be setting up for a sequel. Rachel Corlett This is a racy, fast-paced novel with a twist. The protagonist is a female who has been through such an ordeal in her life that you really feel for her. The suspense created by the author keeps you on the edge of seat throughout. This is a psychological thriller similar to Girl on a Train. You can relate to many of the characters and therefore really immerse yourself in the book. If you want a book you can t put down, then this is the one for you. You will be gripped by the action and intricate plot weaved throughout as you learn more and more about the main character and increasingly understand her actions and emotions. This book will stay in my thoughts for a long time. A must read.